White-Clawed Crayfish Rescue and Translocations

(January 1, 2026) https://nottsbag.org.uk/2026/01/01/white-clawed-crayfish-rescue-and-translocations/

The Environment Agency has been leading a conservation project during the summer and autumn aimed at rescuing endangered, white-clawed crayfish from a threatened location!

Sadly, the native, white-clawed crayfish is heading towards extinction in the UK, due to habitat degradation but most importantly due to the spread of crayfish plague. Crayfish plague is a fungal disease, that will kill all European species of crayfish, within weeks of the crayfish being infected. The disease can be carried by non-native crayfish species and the main carrier of crayfish plague in the UK is the North American signal crayfish. This species is spreading rapidly in UK waters mainly due to illegal introductions and movements of this species by people.

There are still three or four strong populations of white-clawed crayfish in Nottinghamshire, but these are very much under threat as signal crayfish turn up in new wetlands across the county. In recent years, these new populations have appeared closer and closer to the white-clawed populations. In 2024 it was decided that to ensure the future of the native, white-clawed crayfish, it would be necessary to move threatened populations before sites became overrun with signal crayfish.

This work began in 2025, and four successful translocations took place (June, July, September & October) to rescue the white-clawed crayfish from a Nottinghamshire river. The work has been led by Environment Agency Biodiversity Team and supported by Birmingham Sealife Centre, where each batch of rescued, white-clawed crayfish underwent a month-long quarantine before release at a secure ark site.

Four successful translocations have taken place (June, July, September & October) to rescue white-clawed crayfish from a Nottinghamshire river, threatened by American signal crayfish and crayfish plague. Led by Environment Agency Biodiversity Officers and supported by Birmingham Sealife Centre, each batch underwent a month-long quarantine before release at a secure ark site.

In total 339 individuals have been released so far, and lots of support has been given by volunteers from Notts BAG, Nottinghamshire Crayfish Group, White Post Farm and Buglife.

Building on this year’s success, the Environment Agency hope to conduct several more white-clawed crayfish translocations to supplement the population next year, as well as investigate moving other threatened populations and establishing more ark sites to support white-clawed crayfish conservation in the county!

Siobhan Brocklehurst